This little exchange in a Headteacher’s Office was written in response to Fandango’s One Word Challenge. Today’s word is: Favor…
Mrs. Hardwick led Jack into Dr. Arnold Hope-Worthing’s office and told him to sit down.
“Dr. Hope-Worthing will be here in just a moment,” she said, remaining stood in the doorway with her eyes fixed on Jack.
Jack didn’t respond or even look in her direction. There were far more interesting things to look at.
First of all, was this an office or an apartment? He always asked himself this question. He’d been in a lot of Headteacher’s offices over the years and never been in one with a bathroom. His chair was predictably smaller than the one across the other side of the needlessly expansive desk, of course. That chair not only had the whiff of some classy Italian leather, but also emanated the smell of success. The whiff of someone who loved being the boss.
Dr. Hope-Worthing arrived. He whispered something into Mrs. Hardwick’s ear and she left with a nod and nothing else.
“Jack Wilkinson,” he said, climbing up onto his over-sized chair and pushing his glasses up his nose with a finger. “As far as students go, I do have my regulars, but I’m wondering about getting you your own chair.”
“That’d be nice, sir. Better than this piece of crap I’m sitting on.” Jack grinned. “Perhaps I could have yours? Looks too big for you.”
“I see. Going straight into it today are we?”
Dr. Hope-Worthing reached into a pen pot, took out a blue Biro and rolled it around his fingers then pointed it in Jack’s direction. “Do you know how smart I am, Wilkinson?”
“No, sir. But I’m sure the answer’s very,” Jack said.
“It is. A lot. And I’ve come across many a spotty teenager like yourself over the years here at St. Benedicts. Truants like yourself who wanted to lock horns with the alpha stag. Guess what happened to them?”
He paused for effect, “They all fell. They always do.”
Dr. Hope-Worthing tilted his head to the wall over Jack’s shoulder. “Look at my credentials, Wilkinson. Degrees, doctorates, professional qualifications. There’s even a picture of me at Parliament with Boris Johnson. Lovely chap.”
“Very impressive, sir.” Jack said, who couldn’t even half-bring himself to being interested.
“You won’t outsmart me, Wilkinson,” Dr. Hope-Worthing said, leaning forward. “I’ve seen every trick in the book and nothing gets past me.”
“You seem very smart, sir.”
Dr. Hope-Worthing put down the pen to free up a thick finger to point in Jack’s face, “Do me a favour here, Wilkinson. I don’t want to see you in here again. Cease all these shenanigans. They have to stop.”
“They will, sir.” Jack said. “I’ll do you that favour. Not worth my while anyway. Nothing gets past you.”
Dr. Hope-Worthing, satisfied, leaned back in his chair then promptly dismissed Jack, sending him away to his class. Jack smiled sweetly and then made his way in the opposite direction to the school gates where Tony was waiting for him.
“So, how did it go today?” Tony asked.
“The usual,” Jack said. “Today he decided to tell me how smart he is. Showed me all his fancy certificates and a picture of some Janis Joplin guy in some weird way to threaten me.”
“Well, nothing gets past Dr. Hope-Worthing,” Tony said.
“Nope. He sees everything.”
A pause lasting a handful of seconds hung in the air before Jack and Tony burst out laughing.
“Anyway, I’ve got his car keys.” Jack said, pressing the button to open Dr. Hope-Worthing’s car.
A beep-beep noise and a dual flash of indicator lights came from the reserved parking spot close to where they were standing.
”Mercedes. Very nice.” Jack said. “Fancy a ride?”
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